Double return-envelop.



PATENTBD SEPT. 6, 19'04.

Y J. Q. DIXON. DOUBLE RETURN ENVELOP.

APPLICATION FILED APB. 2, 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

A nvt/Enron JAMES Q DlxoN ATTORNEYS No. 769,536. PATENTED SEPT. 6, 1904. J. Q. DIXN.

DOUBLE RETURN ENVBLGP.

APPLICATION FILED APB. 2. 1904.

NO MODEL. K

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

JAMES QDIXON MA BY W f.

ATTORNEYS UNTTen STATES Patented September 6, 1904.

JAMES Q. DIXON, OF ST. LOUlS, MISSOURI.

DOUBLE RETURN-ENVELOF.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,536, datedSeptemberlG, 1904.

Application tiled April 2, 1904. Serial No. 201,348. No model.)

Be it known that l, Janes Q. DIXON, acitizen of the United States, and a resident of St. Louis, in the State of Missouri, have invented an Improved Return-Envelop, of which the following is a specification.

)ly invention is an improvement in that class of envelops known as double or return" envelops and which are constructed of a single blank adapted to be folded, one portion being adapted to be folded within the other and serving as the returnenvelop proper when the outer portion is detached by the addressee.

The details of construction, arrangement, and combination of parts are as hereinafter described, reference being had to the aecompanying drawings, which illustrate two forms oli' return-envelops that are similar in general features and ditler only in some details.

Figure l is a plan view of a blank from which my improved return-envelop is formed. Fig. illustrates the envelop in the form assumed when the return-envelop propel has been dulY folded and formed. Fig. 3 is another view illustrating the next step in the folding operation-that is to say, when the inner or return envelop is folded upon the outer one and before the guinmed edges of the latter are folded upon it. Fig. L is a plan view of the complete envelop when dui)v folded and read)v for transmittal by mail. Fig. is a perspective view illustrating the operation of tearing off the edges of the outer envelop. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the main portion of the blank by which a modilied form of envelop is produced. Figs. T, 8, 9 correspond, substantially` to Figs. Q, 3, et, in that they illustrate the several folding operations. Fig. 10 is a perspective view corresponding to Fig. 5 and illustrating thc operation of tearing olf the edges of the outer envelop.

Referring in the first instance to l to 5, the numerals l and 2 indicate the two bod)v portions of the inner or return envelop A, and 3 -i indicate its gummed side and end flaps.

5 indicates the bod7 portion of the outer envelop upon which the superscription or first address is applied, as shown in Fig. 5, and o' and T indicate the gununed side and end flaps of the same.

c indicates a line of fold between sections l 2 of the inner or return envelop A, and a line of perfor-ations divides the outer envelopsection 5 from the body-section l of the return-envelop. 'lhe end tlaps 6 of the first or outer envelop are similarly separated from the section 5 by lines of perforation c, aud the end flap 7 is similarly separated by a line of perforations J. The side [laps G are further provided with a line ot' perforations c, which is parallel to the line c c, and the end flap 'T has also a corresponding line of perforations d, arranged parallel to thc line lt will be understood that when the side and end llaps 6 and 7 of the lirst or outer envelop B are folded, as indicated in Fig. 4, the lines c and c will coincide and the lines (l andv will siinilarlv coincide, and that both these set-s ot' lines will be cntirel)Y outside et' the inner or return envelop A. lhus the outer or return envelop will be provided with projecting edge portions which ma)v be termed selvagesf and that the same are adapted to be torn olf, as indicated in Fig.

l will now indicate the manner of foldiiig the envelop-blank. The section Q of the inner or return envelop A is lirst folded on the line a upon the section l, as indicated in Fig. 2, and the guinmcd side flaps 3 are folded upon the back or section l and secured thereto. .-ln end tlap 4; may be tucked in between the sections l 2, as indicated b v dottel lines, Fig. 2, since it will not be required for use in the lirst transmittal, or not until the cnvelop A is to be returned to the sender. The next step consists in folding the return-envelop A which is thus formed upon the scction 5 of the outer or first envelop B, as indicated in Fig. 3. Then the side and end flaps 6 and T of the outer envelop B are folded inward in the position indicated in Fig. e, the edges .1' and i/ forming projections or selvagcs, which are entirelyv outside the inner envelop A. \V hen the letter is received by the addressee, which in this case is indicated in Fig. 5 as the "Commissioner ot' Patents, lVashington, l). 0., in order to obtain access to the contents of the letter the project- IOO dicated in Fig. 5. As previously intimated,

the lines of tear and separation are formedY by the coincident lines of perforation c c and d d', which are indicated in Figs. 1,2, 3. When the portions a" y have been thus separated, the section 5 of the outer or first envelop remains attached to the return-envelop A, but is to be separated therefrom along the line of perforations I). When this has been done, the inner or return envelop A will be completely separated from the outer or projecting portion B, and by drawing the end iiap 4 out of the pocket formed by the folded sections l 2 and folding it upon the outer side of the section l the return-envelop is ready for transmittal to the addressee or original sender, whose address is applied to the outer side of section 2, as indicated in Fig. 2. A In Figs. 6 to l() I illustrate an envelop which is in the main similar to that before described. I will brieiiy indicate the differences in detail. A/ indicates the inner or return envelop, and B the outer or iirst envelop. Instead of a single line of perforations between the two envelops, as indicated at in Figs. l and 2, I provide two parallel lines of perforations b', and the end flap 7 is made of the same size as the body-section 5'. Thus when the blank is folded the lines b coincide and the intervening portion forms a gummed selvage or projection of the complete envelop. The outer or end flap 7 when folded down, as indicated in Fig. 9, completely covers the back of the inner or return envelop A. The letter is then ready for transmittal. Upon its receipt by the addressee he tears o the side and end selvages a" and. y', (see Fig. 10,)` which leaves the inner or return envelop A free. It will be seen that in this case the outer section 7 entirely covers and protects the back of the inner or return envelop, also that the two parts A and B are separated in the act of removing the projection or selvage y.

In both forms of envelop the inner or return portion A or A serves as a guide or edge v along which the edges of the outer envelop are torn for the purpose of obtaining access to the interior and for completely separating `the two parts and that this #operation is eftal of an ordinary letter or for money or merchandise.

The advantages of such form of double 0r return envelop are apparent and well understood.

What I claim is-.

l. The improved return-envelop formed of a partAcomprising body-sections l, 2, the latter having gummed side and end flaps, the former provided with two parallel perforated lines which coincide when the flapsare folded and lie entirely outside the body-sections, and the outer or protecting part comprising a body-section which is separable from the inner or return envelop by a line of perforations and provided with gummed side and end flaps having lines ofV perforations which coincide and lie outside the inner envelop when the blank is completely folded substantially as described.

2. The improved blank for a return-envelop consisting of a part A formed of like body-v sections 1, 2, the latter having gummed side and end flaps and an outer or protecting' part comprising a body-section which is separable from the return part by a line of perforations and provided with side and end iaps each having two parallel lines of perforations,

the same lying outside that portion of theV body-section which corresponds in size to the body-sections of the return part, substantially as described.

JAS. Q. DIXON. Witnesses:

JOHN F. BoLAND, E. J. OCONNELL. 

